Unit Secretary
Salary

Most Unit Secretaries in the United States are women. The median pay for people in this role is approximately $13.13 per hour. Earnings sit near $9.96 per hour on the lower side but can approach $17.02 on the higher side. The most important factor affecting compensation for this group is geography, followed by career duration and the specific company. Job satisfaction for Unit Secretaries is high. A strong majority report receiving medical coverage from their employers and more than half collect dental insurance. This overview is based on answers to PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for Unit Secretary

The unit secretary is responsible for coordinating non-clinical activities on a nursing unit. These duties include processing physician orders and managing communications among the nursing staff, physicians, visitors, patients, and ancillary departments. The unit secretary is also the first point of contact for anyone entering the department looking for patients or staff members, so they must present a professional demeanor at all times.

A unit secretary must transcribe physician orders accurately and in a timely fashion, and they notify the appropriate staff members of stat orders. They also follow through on completion of all forms, requisitions, and orders required to complete a physician's order; they accomplish this by accurately and completely entering physician orders into the computer.

The unit secretary must be proficient in the use of communication equipment, such as telephones, fax machines, computers, and the nurse "call bell" system. They answer the phones promptly and politely and using age-appropriate communication when speaking to patients and family members; they also help patients find answers to their questions by directing them to the appropriate source.

The unit secretary also maintains patient charts, ensuring they're kept in the proper order and are labeled appropriately. They confirm that the charts have been completed and follow up with necessary staff to complete them as needed. They also ensure that the nursing station is clean and organized and that necessary supplies, such as pens, paper clips, and printer paper are available; they re-order supplies as needed. Unit secretaries also assist in orienting and training new unit secretaries and may be required to assist on other units to help fill staffing shortfall. At all times, they must maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with hospital and HIPAA regulations.

Common Career Paths for Unit Secretary

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There are some Unit Secretaries — though it's uncommon — that transition into Emergency Room Registered Nurses, where earnings are an average $60K annually. Unit Secretaries moving up in their careers tend to step into positions as Registered Nurses or Administrative Assistants. The median paychecks in those roles are $27K higher and $3K higher, respectively.

Unit Secretary, Emergency Room (ER) Job Listings

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Popular Skills for Unit Secretary

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey results suggest that Unit Secretaries put a wide range of professional skills to use. Most notably, skills in Microsoft Office, Scheduling, Medical Terminology, and Customer Service are correlated to pay that is above average. Most people familiar with Customer Service also know Typing.

Pay by Experience Level for Unit Secretary

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

Unit Secretaries do not generally earn higher incomes from more experience in the field. Relatively untried employees who have less than five years' experience make $26K, but folks with five to 10 years under their belts enjoy an appreciably larger median of $28K. The average pay reported by folks with 10 to 20 years of experience is around $30K. Unit Secretaries with more than 20 years of experience report incomes that are only modestly higher; the median for these old hands hovers around $32K.

Pay Difference by Location

Unit Secretaries will find that Boston offers an impressive pay rate, one which exceeds the national average by 24 percent. Unit Secretaries can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like Philadelphia (+12 percent), Dallas (+10 percent), Kansas City (+9 percent), and Baltimore (+7 percent). Falling short of the national average by 12 percent, the area with the worst salaries is San Antonio. Not at the bottom but still paying below the median are employers in Memphis and Richmond (8 percent lower and 5 percent lower, respectively).

Unit Secretary Reviews

What is it like working as an Unit Secretary?

Unit Secretary in Pittsburgh:

"Work."

Pros: Watching people get better so they can go home to their families. No one likes to be in the hospital. It's a beautiful feeling to see them go home.

Cons: The Red tape of the system at times. Also the sadness that comes with working in a hospital.